Zelenskyy Offers to Halt Russian Refinery Strikes in Exchange for Patriot Missiles

OPA WIRE, Nov 2 (OPA) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Sunday that his government is prepared to halt drone strikes against Russian oil refineries if Washington supplies Kyiv with Patriot interceptor missiles. Speaking to Fox News, Zelenskyy framed the offer as a strategic trade-off intended to protect Ukraine’s own power grid from ongoing Russian bombardment.

Zelenskyy noted that he has held extensive discussions with President Donald Trump and his administration regarding the proposal. He emphasized that Ukraine’s strikes on Russian infrastructure were a direct response to Moscow’s targeting of Ukrainian electricity and gas facilities. "If you want us to stop, you must not attack our energy system," Zelenskyy said, adding that Kyiv would require the Patriot systems to secure its airspace as a condition for the ceasefire on refineries.

The U.S. State Department approved a potential sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine last Friday, though Zelenskyy warned that the delivery timeline could span years. To address immediate shortages, the Ukrainian leader suggested that the U.S. and European allies provide missiles from existing stockpiles, with the new order serving as a long-term replenishment mechanism. Kyiv has reported a critical depletion of its interceptor inventory over recent weeks.

President Trump has repeatedly urged both Moscow and Kyiv to refrain from targeting energy facilities to stabilize global markets and reduce the intensity of the conflict. When asked if his request for missiles might be perceived as pressure on the Trump administration, Zelenskyy dismissed the concern, stating he was simply sharing the reality of the battlefield with his partners. The proposal remains a central point of negotiation as both sides weigh the impact of energy infrastructure strikes on the broader war effort.